The vet said she wont castrate my great dane pup until he is 18 months old and stopped growing .. I was told by someone else it is better to have him done a lot earlier than that..Help?
2007-01-15 06:39:08 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
It is a good idea to wait on giant breeds until they are at least 9 months old..some lines it is best to wait until 12-18 months. Some Dane lines are slower maturing then others. If there are no behavior problems then 18 months is fine for a Dane but I certainly wouldn't wait longer.
Your vet is not telling you to wait in order to get more money or any such thing...he is looking at the best interest of your Dane. A Dane can be neutered as young as 6 months and some mature just fine however others do not if done this early.The vet isn't waiting for him to stop growing, but rather waiting for more maturity on growth plates and muscle. Some Dane lines will not fill out nor "mature" fully if neutered earlier then 12 months.
A Dane won't stop growing until at least 2 years of age and some not until 3 years and then they fill out.
If you really must neuter earlier because of aggression or other behavior issues then consult with another vet. I would also seek your breeders advice (saying they are a responsible breeder) they know how their lines mature and if neutering would be recommended earlier.
2007-01-15 08:03:18 · answer #1 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't crop adult ears -- they won't stand. Here's how it works. You crop between 7 and 12 weeks. I prefer on the earlier side, as the ears are smaller and far less vascular (less bleeding). A vet knows which anesthetics are safe for young pups. The ears are cropped and posted -- never "bandaged" although it may look that way. When the ears are newly cropped they are put up on a cap so that the cut edges are exposed to the air to heal. It doesn't take long -- 7-10 days. Once the edges heal up the real work of posting begins. Those ears need to be kept up. There are many methods, from rolled paper, foam posts, and a special wrap of masking tape with no posts. All depends on your mentor and the method they think is best. With a dane you might post for several months to a year. As the pup matures, the ear cartilage gets more firm -- this holds the ear up. If the ears are down during this process, they get firm in the down position and will not stand. Many people are against cropping (an optional surgery) but for spay/neuter (a far more dangerous and invasive optional surgery). I find this position to be inconsistent. Cropping is a quick, simple and safe procedure when done by a vet.
2016-05-24 07:17:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better go find another vet! Danes are commonly neutered between 6 and 8 months of age. My own have all been done at that age.
By waiting until 18 months, not only will the cost be far more, but a far greater amount of anesthetic is required. Anesthetics must be very carefully administered to Danes, the breed is sensitive to them. By having your boy neutered younger, it is much safer because less anesthetic is required.
As far as growth goes, Danes are not fully mature until they are 3 years old, so the vet's argument is ridiculous. I certainly wouldn't be taking any of my Danes to him!
2007-01-15 07:04:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Find a different vet... It should be done between 6-12 months of age... I typically recommend about 8 months old. Some vets will even give you a discount if the dog is under a certain age (ie: 8 months).
Hmm, maybe your vet wants to wait until he is 18 months old because he will be big & heavy by then... Usually the anethstesia they use during surgery costs more the more the dog weighs... Find a new vet.
2007-01-15 06:43:45 · answer #4 · answered by Kerstone Shepherds 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You should definitely talk to a different vet. I was confused on when to get a rabies shot for my pup. I was told 12 weeks, then I was told 16 weeks. I got her rabies shot at 12 weeks because I figured earlier the better...We live in the country and can't exactly keep rabbid animals away from the property. Armadillos, skunks...coyotes...What's best for my dog is what's done.
2007-01-15 07:08:27 · answer #5 · answered by apbtlvr 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First of all thank you for not breeding!!
Secondly, a dog should not be fixed before 6 months
Thirdly, that vet is an idiot...18 months...that dog might be full grown by then and the cost to fix him would be OUTRAGOUS!
They charge you by the lb of the dog. So right now, if hes over 6 months old, would probably be the best to fix him now!!
2007-01-15 06:49:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It can be done after 4 months. Maybe you vet wants you to wait because he can charge more.
Any breed of dog (and actually any mammal) will actually get bigger when you neuter them young, due to the fact that there is more available estrogen in the animals body (which causes growth) and the lack of testosterone (which causes mainly muscle development).
2007-01-15 06:53:10 · answer #7 · answered by iluvmyfrenchbulldogs 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've heared that with very large dogs it is best to wait untill they are full grown simply because it's a bit stressfull to have surgery and so it's best to wait untill the stress on their body from growing is done.
I'd say listen to your vet, they're the experts.
Or call around and ask other reputable vets and possibly breeders.
2007-01-15 06:44:30 · answer #8 · answered by gitana_diosa 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Definitely get a second opinion. I had my Patterdale Terrier done when he was six months but it could well be different for larger breeds.
2007-01-15 06:50:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Castration in dogs are after they are fully grown but in bitches is after there 1st period.
2007-01-15 06:51:17 · answer #10 · answered by Michelle H 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋